B178A-00

DTC B178A-00 indicates the SRS (airbag) electronic control unit detects an abnormally low resistance (close to 0 ohms) in the front passenger Stage 2 frontal airbag ignition circuit, indicating a short circuit (short to ground or short between wires) — Qin Plus

Safety System

DTC B178A-00 indicates the SRS (airbag) electronic control unit detects an abnormally low resistance (close to 0 ohms) in the front passenger Stage 2 frontal airbag ignition circuit, indicating a short circuit (short to ground or short between wires).

In a dual-stage ignition system, the Stage 2 airbag provides additional protection during severe collisions, typically deploying simultaneously with Stage 1 or triggering with a delay.

A resistance of 0 ohms causes the SRS ECU to determine the ignition circuit is unreliable, illuminate the airbag warning light, and disable the front passenger airbag Stage 2 deployment function.

In extreme cases, the airbag may deploy inadvertently without a collision or fail completely.

This is a hard fault.

The ECU stores it continuously until repaired.

5
Cases Logged
BYD DTC AI Analysis

BYD Qin EV300 front passenger airbag second-stage circuit short after water fording

A 2017 Qin EV300 showed a steady SRS warning light after wading through heavy flood water. Retrieved DTC B178A-00 (current fault). Stripped and inspected the front passenger floor wiring harness; the waterproof grommet sealed poorly. Water ingress oxidised and shorted the airbag connector pins. Repair: Thoroughly dried the harness, cleaned the connector with electronic contact cleaner, applied conductive anti-corrosion grease, and replaced the damaged airbag wiring harness branch. After reassembly, cleared the DTCs and the SRS system self-test passed. Fault resolved.
BYD DTC AI Analysis

Qin 100 dashboard wiring harness pinched and shorted after accident repair

After the accident-damaged vehicle had its front bumper, dashboard and passenger airbag replaced, it immediately set DTC B178A-00 on startup. Inspection revealed the technician failed to route the passenger side second-stage airbag harness along its original path when installing the dashboard. The harness became pinched against the metal edge of the dashboard frame, chafing through the insulation and causing the positive and negative conductors to short together. Repair: Removed the damaged section of wiring, soldered the connections and insulated with heat-shrink tubing. Re-routed and secured the harness according to factory specifications, keeping it away from sharp edges and high-temperature components. Fault resolved.
BYD DTC AI Analysis

Manufacturing defect in the airbag module internal igniter caused zero resistance.

A 2018 BYD Qin EV450's SRS warning light illuminated suddenly at 20,000 km without collision. The diagnostic scanner showed static fault code B178A-00. Disconnecting the airbag connector revealed 0.3Ω resistance at the module-side second-stage pins (normal ~2.0Ω). This indicated an internal short caused by a powder pressing defect in the second-stage igniter. Replaced the passenger airbag assembly (including second-stage inflator) with a new unit, reinstalled using special tools with torque set to 9-10 N·m, then programmed and matched the module. Fault cleared.
BYD DTC AI Analysis

False positive fault in SRS ECU internal sampling circuit

Intermittent DTC B178A-00; normal when cold, present when hot. Measured airbag module and wiring harness resistance, both normal at 1.8Ω; harness insulation good. Suspected poor thermal stability of internal A/D converter circuit or sampling resistor in SRS ECU. Replaced airbag control unit (located beneath centre console), performed ECU coding (entered vehicle VIN and airbag configuration code) and system initialisation learning. Road test confirmed fault did not recur.
BYD DTC AI Analysis

Bent connector pin caused positive and negative terminals to contact

The fault appeared after routine maintenance at the dealership. Root cause: the technician bumped the passenger airbag connector while removing the glovebox to check the cabin filter, bending the second-stage circuit pins until they contacted and shorted. Fix: Disconnected the battery, carefully straightened the pins, confirmed no fractures, reseated the connector, applied contact protectant, and cleared the codes. Protect SRS connectors during service.
Data confidence: Community This information is for reference only. Always consult a qualified technician for diagnosis and repair. Do not attempt high-voltage system repairs yourself.